Elon Musk's futuristic dreams are once again under scrutiny. This time, the protagonist is Tesla's robotaxi, the autonomous vehicle that promised to change the world... but is sowing doubts (and fear) on the streets of Austin, Texas.
A launch full of errors
Everything started with excitement, Tesla announced that its fleet of driverless vehicles was hitting the streets in test mode. The promise was clear: 100% autonomous taxis, revolutionizing urban mobility. But just a few hours after the launch, videos began to appear and they weren't exactly good news.
Users posted clips where the cars made serious mistakes: sudden braking, dangerous lane changes, and illegal maneuvers. In one of the most talked-about cases, a robotaxi ignored a mandatory turn sign and entered an intersection erratically. All this with passengers inside.
Authorities are already investigating
As expected, the videos reached the ears of the NHTSA, the U.S. agency in charge of road safety. They quickly confirmed that they are investigating the incidents.
Although there is a "safety monitor" on board, the fact that an autonomous car makes those mistakes is still very concerning. Very concerning.
There are no official measures yet, but public and media pressure is evident. The possibility of suspending the test program is not ruled out.
Tesla remains silent... and that worries even more
The most striking thing is not just the cars' mistakes, it's Tesla's lack of response. So far, the company hasn't issued any official statement. It hasn't replied to the videos, it hasn't given any explanations.
Many have interpreted that silence as a way to minimize the problem, while the controversy grows. As often happens, when a company stays silent, others speak for it.
The competition moves forward without scandals
Meanwhile, Waymo, Google's autonomous vehicle project, already operates in several cities with driverless taxis and no human supervisors. Most importantly: it does so without causing serious incidents.
Waymo has spent years testing and refining its technology. Tesla, on the other hand, seems to be testing directly on the street, with everyone watching. The result: distrust, memes, viral videos... and a 3% drop in the company's stock the day after the scandal.
The future needs responsibility
Innovation is exciting, but without safety it's useless. Tesla's failures make it clear: the future demands control and responsibility.
For now, the question is no longer when the autonomous car will arrive.
The real question is: will we feel safe when it does?